International Students

Center for International Programs

101 Old Library
West Chester, PA 19383
Call: (610) 436 – 3515
Email: International Students or
Email: American Students Studying Abroad

Newly Admitted Students

FAQs

  1. What should I bring with me?
  2. How can I register for course work?
  3. How do I pay my tuition?
  4. How much money should I bring with me?
  5. What banking options are there around campus?
  6. What do I need to do if I want to drive in the US?

What should I bring with me? Back to Questions

What to bring to West Chester depends on two major factors, your personal needs and the cost and convenience of bringing the item with you. Bulky items like a pillow can be purchased in the United States saving valuable room for other items. Heavy items such as reference books can be shipped separately or may be available through other sources. You should evaluate what to bring based on your needs. The check list that follows is not intended to be inclusive, but a general guide of items to bring. Be sure to include personal items, such as your favorite pictures, music, etc. that will make you feel closer to home.

Clothes: The weather in the West Chester area is quite variable. We experience very cold winters, hot summers, and pleasant days in between. The temperatures often drop to 30°F (-7°C) in the winter and rise above 90°F (32°) in the summer. Summertime also brings high humidity. If you are admitted for the fall semester, you can arrive in lightweight clothes but will need heavier clothes (heavy jacket, gloves, boots) as the season changes from summer to fall and then winter. The reverse is true if you are admitted to the spring semester.

Medicines: If you take medication regularly, we recommend you bring one month’s supply with you. Make sure they are labeled clearly for customs inspections. Check with your physician, before leaving your country, about any prescription medications.

Documents: Be sure to bring any necessary documents, such as Visas, I–20, transcript of courses and correspondence. Do not pack them in a suitcase, but carry them with you during travel.

Personal Items: If you have a favorite music tape or an item which makes you feel closer to home, be sure to bring it with you. Don’t forget grooming or make–up items that may not be found in the United States.

Driver’s License: If you anticipate driving while in the United States, you may wish to obtain an International Driver’s License which is available from you home country.

How can I register for course work? Back to Questions

Once you pay your acceptance fee, West Chester University creates a myWCU account. This account will give you access to the computer network and student email accounts. Use this link to obtain instructions about using your new student account. http://wcupa.edu/infoservices/acc/NewStudentAccountInformation.asp

After you have successfully accessed your myWCU account, use the following instructions to register courses. The instructions can be found here: http://wcupa.edu/registrar/documents/SchedulingClassesInYourMYWCU.pdf

How do I pay my tuition? Back to Questions

All students are expected to pay their tuition bills by the due date indicated on the bill or their schedules will be canceled by the university.

Non-receipt or readjustment of a bill does not relieve the student from paying/submitting the bill by the due date. Only one bill is sent out per semester. Therefore, if it is lost or the student’s course load is modified, the student may access their account via myWCU.

Fall Semester bills are due in early to mid-August and Spring Semester bills are due in mid-December.

For students experiencing financial difficulty, which includes pending financial aid, the Partial Payment Plan is a viable option.

Payment Methods

Check or Money Order

  • Checks or Money Orders must be made payable to West Chester University. You can also pay with an e-check on-line at QuikPAY.
  • The canceled check or money order serves as the receipt for payment.
  • Checks or Money Orders can be mailed in the pre–addressed envelope included with the bill, hand–delivered, or dropped in the night depository at the Office of the Bursar.
  • Post–dated checks will not be processed.

Credit Cards

  • Credit card payments can only be made online through QuikPay.
  • WCU will accept MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card.
  • If paying with a credit card, a convenience fee of 2.75% will be accessed by our vendor. You will receive two charges on your card; one for West Chester University and one for the convenience fee from our vendor.

Cash

  • Please DO NOT MAIL CASH.
  • Cash must be hand-delivered to the Office of the Bursar.

Company or Agency Billing

  • Bills that are paid by an employer or an outside agency require documentation indicating the billing address and amount authorized to be billed.
  • This documentation and any amount not covered by company or agency must be returned with the bill by the due date.
  • Students, who receive tuition reimbursement upon completion of the course, are not eligible for this service and must pay their bill by the due date.

Financial Holds

  • Financial Holds are placed on student accounts with any unpaid balance.

How can I register for course work? Back to Questions

It is important to remember that you should NOT carry large amounts of money with you to the United States. You should have some money in U.S. dollars and coins (not more than $500) for meals, transportation, phone calls, and other things that you may need along the way. There are money exchange banks located in nearly all the U.S. ports of entry.

What banking options are there around campus? Back to Questions

You will want to open a bank account with a U.S. bank. It is possible to transfer or wire money, but establishing connections with a U.S. bank is integral to ensuring you have access to your money whenever you need it. In order to open a bank account in the United States, you will need to provide proof of identification. When you go to the bank to open the account, bring whatever funds you plan to deposit in the account as well as your passport to show proof of identification. You may also want to bring your I–20 form, your I–94 card and your student ID card from West Chester University. All banks have different policies for opening new accounts and may ask for additional identification.

Banks in the United States are similar to banks in other countries. However, the terms to describe the different services may differ. The most common confusion is between US savings accounts, checking accounts and ATMs.

A savings account allows you to save money and accumulate interest on those savings. The rate of interest on your savings account varies from bank to bank. You can transfer money from savings to checking or checking to savings. You cannot write checks of payment from your savings account.

Checking accounts allow you to pay for purchases and services without carrying cash on you. Checks are most often used to pay monthly expenses such as electric bills and phone bills. Your checks should have your name, address, and phone number printed on them in order for them to be accepted in your transaction. You will be issued these printed checks when you open your account. Cost and terms of opening and maintain checking accounts vary between banks. You will need to keep an accurate accounting of the money in your checking account. Writing a check without enough money in your account (bouncing a check) results in additional charges or legal consequences (if you bounce checks repeatedly).

Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) or Money Access Centers (MACs) are computerized banking machines, available 24 hours a day. These machines are operated with a special card and secret access number. They can be used for basic banking such as deposits, transferring and withdrawing money. West Chester University has several of these machines on campus.

If you want to make banking connections prior to arriving in the US, the following is a list of banks within walking distance from campus.

1n Bank of Chester County

9 North High Street, West Chester, PA 19380
877 – 362–0100
http://www.fnbchestercounty.com

Fulton Bank

116 W Market Street, West Chester, PA 19382
610 – 918–8810
http://fultonbank.com

National Penn Bank

200 N High Street, #100, West Chester, PA 19380
610 – 430–2120
http://natpennbank.com

Sovereign Bank

50 W Market Street, West Chester, PA 19382
610 – 431–9330
http://www.sovereignbank.com

Wachovia Bank West Chester

17 N High Street, West Chester, PA 19380
610 – 436–7748
www.wachovia.com

Wachovia Bank Parkway Center

929 S High Street, West Chester, PA 19382
610 – 431–8816
www.wachovia.com

What do I need to do if I want to drive in the US? Back to Questions

If you are planning on driving as soon as you arrive in the United States, consider obtaining an International Driver’s License before you depart your home country. Further information about obtaining a driver’s license will be covered at the orientation session.